When I first played this game back in 1995 it seemed familiar to me. I just couldn’t quite put my finger on it where I had seen this game before. Then it struck me when I first got Pacman to use the grappling hook. Fury of the Furries! Yes, Pac In Time is nearly identical to the Amiga classic Fury of the Furries also hosted on Abandonia.
So where are the differences? Well … in Fury of the Furries, you could control several furries, each with their own speciality – fireball, bubbles, grappling hook, etc. In Pac In Time, all of these are turned into one character: pacman. Next to this, the only difference seems to be the intro screens. Even the backdrops in the game still show furries.
So about the game itself: this was one of the best platform games the PC had back in the early 90s. Unlike other platform games, Pac In Time has an important strategic element by letting you control several of your powers to overcome obstacles. You can swing over enemies using the grappling hook, blast them using your fire ball, munch through the floor, etc. In a lot of cases you can complete a level in several ways which is refreshing when most other platform games offer a very limited way of approaching problems.
The game can be a too fast paced for some people though – Pacman slides, jumps and swings all over the map at fast speeds if you’re not careful and getting used to controlling him may take some time. But don’t be tempted to give up even if you end up dying a lot at first. Once you get the hang of it, the game really becomes rewarding. You’ll be swinging like a genuine Tarzan through the maps, blasting enemies to cinders and dodging traps like a regular Indiana Jones!
The later levels can be a real test of your skill and wit, and beating it left me hugely satisfied knowing I completed a game that required more than bashing a fire button at lightning fast speeds. Trust me, this game is addictive!